Death (Marvel Comics)
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/* Fictional character biography */
{{Otheruses4|the personification of death in the Marvel Universe|the Apocalypse Horseman of Death|Horsemen of Apocalypse}}
{{Superherobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
image=[[Image:DeathMarvel1.JPG|200px]]
|caption=Interior art from '''''Annihilation: Nova Corps Files''''' (2006).
|comic_color=background:#ff8080
|character_name=Death
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)|Captain Marvel]]'' #27 (vol. 1, Jul [[1973]])
|creators=[[Mike Friedrich]]<br>[[Jim Starlin]]
|alliance_color=background:#cccccc
|status=Active
|alliances=[[Thanos]]
|previous_alliances=[[Marlo Chandler]] (host)
|aliases=Mistress Death
|relatives=[[Eternity (comics)|Eternity]], [[Infinity (Marvel Comics)|Infinity]], [[Oblivion (comics)|Oblivion]], [[Galactus]] (siblings), [[The Rot (comics)|The Rot]] (son)
|powers=Indeterminable cosmic power
|}}
'''Death''' is a [[fictional character]] that appears in [[comic books]] published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character first appeared in [[Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)|Captain Marvel]] #27 (vol. 1, Jul. 1973) and was created by [[Mike Friedrich]] and [[Jim Starlin]].
== Fictional character biography ==
Death is part of the cosmic pantheon that represents the three essential forces in the [[Marvel Universe]]: equity, necessity, and vengeance. These forces are represented by [[Galactus]], [[Eternity (comics)|Eternity]] and Death, respectively, in the [[Earth 616|main Marvel universe]]. In turn, equity, necessity, and vengeance comprise the three faces of the [[Living Tribunal]], a singular being that governs the [[multiverse (Marvel Comics)|multiverse]], the sum of all universes (Death and the other cosmic beings are surpassed in power and authority only by the Living Tribunal).<ref>''Silver Surfer'' #31 (vol. 3, Dec. 1989)</ref> Death views Eternity and Galactus - together with [[Infinity (Marvel Comics)|Infinity]] and [[Oblivion (comics)|Oblivion]] - as siblings and will actually address them, as opposed to using an agent as a mouthpiece as she typically does.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #257 (vol. 1, Aug. 1983)</ref>
Death first appears on Earth posing as "Death Ryder" to test [[Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)|Johnny Blaze]] when possessed by the [[Ghost Rider (comics)|Ghost Rider]].<ref>''Ghost Rider'' #35 (vol. 1, Apr. 1973)</ref> Death is then drawn to the Titan [[Thanos]], who has embarked on a scheme to conquer the universe. Fascinated by Thanos' obsession and his now-considerable power, Death manifests itself before him, and he in turn becomes determined to prove his "love" for her by destroying all life in the universe with the artifact the [[Cosmic Cube]]. Death abandons Thanos when he is finally defeated by the combined might of [[Mar-Vell|Captain Marvel]] and the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]].<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #27 - 33 (vol. 1, Jul. - Jan. 1973 - 1974)</ref> Thanos later tries to "woo" Death back<!-- by destroying all stars in the Sol system-->, but is finally killed during a battle with the Avengers, Captain Marvel and [[Adam Warlock]].<ref>''Avengers'' Annual #7 + ''Marvel Two-In-One'' Annual #2 (1977)</ref>
Death is later coerced into a game of strategy by the [[Grandmaster (Marvel Comics)|Grandmaster]], one of the [[Elders of the Universe]]. The Grandmaster wins the game and forces Death to resurrect The [[Collector (comics)|Collector]], a fellow elder. The Grandmaster then takes his place in the Realm of the Dead.<ref>''Contest of Champions'' # 1 - 4 (Jun - Aug. 1982)</ref> When the entity the [[Beyonder]] takes human form and visits Earth, it decides to "save" mankind, and in doing so destroys Death. The Beyonder, however, is then shown that there is a need for Death and recreates the entity.<ref>''Secret Wars II'' #6 (Dec. 1985)</ref>
Soon after this the Grandmaster reveals his sacrifice was a ruse as he is able to steal Death's powers and then, through still another trick, forces her into banishing all Elders from her realm, effectively rendering them immortal.<ref>''Avengers'' Annual #16 (1987)</ref> An angered Death later encounters several of the Elders and the entity the [[In-Betweener]] when they scheme to destroy Galactus.<ref>''Silver Surfer'' #1-10 (vol. 3, Jul. - Apr 1987 - 1988)</ref> In retaliation, Death permanently wipes the Elders the [[Astronomer (comics)|Astronomer]], [[Possessor (comics)|Possessor]] and [[Trader (comics)|Trader]] from existence.<ref>''Silver Surfer'' #16 - 17 (vol. 3, Oct. - Nov. 1988)</ref>
Years later, when Death perceives an imbalance in the universe and a gradual shift towards life rather than death, she resurrects Thanos. Death then watches as Thanos collects the [[Infinity Gems]] and, as an omnipotent being, attempts to converse with her. The irony is that Thanos is now superior to Death; as his inferior, Death cannot speak with him (a fact related to him by one of her minions).<ref>''Thanos Quest'' #1 - 2 (1990)</ref> Thanos then wipes half the beings in the universe from existence as proof of his love for her, and Death stays with Thanos and watches as he battles the cosmic pantheon and Earth's metahumans. Death leaves when Thanos is finally defeated<ref>''Infinity Gauntlet'' #1 - 6 (1991)</ref> but later reunites with him to confront the Death God Walker, who tries unsuccessfully to court Death. At one stage Death hides within the body of [[Marlo Chandler]], the girlfriend of [[Rick Jones (comics)|Rick Jones]], in an attempt to escape Walker. Death eventually destroys Walker and then leaves the body of Marlo, although Marlo retains a small fraction of Death's power.<ref>''Captain Marvel'' #17 - 19 (vol. 2, Feb. - Mar. 2001)</ref>
Death later reveals to Thanos that their energies merged when he was resurrected, creating an offspring called the "Rot". Death and Thanos work together to destroy their offspring, and it is at this time that Death finally addresses Thanos and confesses her love for him.<ref>''Avengers: Celestial Quest'' #1 - 8 (2001 - 2002)</ref> The pair later share a kiss moments before Thanos, possessing the artifact the [[Heart of the Universe]], recreates the universe minus a critical flaw that would have destroyed it.<ref>''Marvel:The End'' #1 - 6 (2003)</ref>
Thanos then joins the fight to stop the [[Annihilation (comics)|Annihilation Wave]], and is killed by [[Drax the Destroyer]]. When the hero [[Nova (comics)|Nova]] is near death from injuries sustained in battle, he glimpses Death and Thanos standing together watching him.<ref> ''Annihilation'' #6 (2007)</ref>
==Powers and abilities==
As a cosmic concept and member of the essential Trinity, Death possesses the power to achieve virtually any effect. Being an [[abstract entity]], Death has no physical body, but usually appears in humanoid form so it can be perceived by lesser beings. The relationship between Death and Earth's Death gods (e.g., [[Hela (comics)|Hela]] in the [[Earth-616]] universe) has yet to be revealed. Death resides inside a pocket dimension known as the Realm of Death, which also houses the Infinity Well, which contains the knowledge of the universe.<ref>''Thanos Quest'' #1 (1990)</ref>
==Other versions==
===[[Earth X]]===
In this universe, Death is killed by Thanos when he uses the artifact the [[Ultimate Nullifier]] to destroy her.<ref>''Earth X'' #0-12 (Mar. 1999 - Apr. 2000)</ref>
==Footnotes==
<references/>
== Links ==
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/d/death.htm Marvel Directory: Death]
[[Category:Marvel Comics cosmic entities]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics immortals]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics supervillains]]
[[Category:Personifications of death]]
[[es:Muerte (cómic)]]
[[fi:Kuolema (sarjakuvahahmo)]]